Moving out with Richard Pryor

Today is Moving Day for the Stuck in the 80s mansion. So as I try to squeeze my collection of a-ha import CDs, "Police Academy" DVD box set and life-sized Ione Skye plush pillow (I gave her my heart...) into new 1-bedroom apartment, I thought I'd give you a moving-theme blog item.

TODAY'S RETRO-REVIEW: 1988's "Moving," starring Richard Pryor, Beverly Todd and Randy Quaid. Directed by Alan Metter ("Back to School" and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun.")

THE TAGLINE: "On the New Jersey Turnpike, no one can hear you scream."

THE PLOT: Arlo Pear (Pryor, with the best character name of all time) is a family man with a nice job in New Jersey. But after being laid off, the only similar job he can find ... is in Idaho. (Wow, this practically writes itself.)

MAYBE YOU REMEMBER: The great Morris Day (of Morris Day and the Time) makes a cameo. Man, someone get Morris a better acting agent. He could have been solid gold in the '80s.

SURELY YOU CAN"T FORGET: A very young Dana Carvey, as the man with multiple personalities hired to drive Arlo's car to Idaho. And no, it's not his first big-screen credit. Carvey was in 1981's "Halloween II" as "WWAR Assistant."

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID: The Washington Post said: "The movie seems to have been conceived as a kind of fantasy of contentment and affluence for the black audience, and its message seems to be, 'Yes, it's true. We, too, can be as insufferably upscale and boring as whites.' "

WHY WE LOVE IT ANYWAY: It's sure a lot better than "The Toy." And with a rich cast of cameos -- including Dave Thomas -- it's hard not to enjoy getting into the moving spirit. Just keep Quaid away from my boxes of porn material.

TOP 5 MEMORABLE LINES FROM "MOVING":

5. "Keep the weed whacker, Frank! Be happy with it because you have to friends! Nobody wants to talk to you!"

4. "I gave him the wrong g---amn finger!

3. "Who you think you talkin' to? I'll stomp a mudhole in your a--, poop butt!"

2. "Ma'am, that dog hasn't farted since March '78."

1. "There's no G---amn way, I'm G---amn moving to Ida-son of a bitch, s--t eating-ho."

Comments

[Carla]

I rented this movie ONLY because Morris Day was in it! Truthfully, I can't remember much about the movie. Hmmm, wonder if it's worth seeing if it's available on Netflix??

Hope the move goes well Steve, and you find the perfect wall for the life-size Ferris poster!!

[Marissa]

Ah, how I hate moving. I can't recall this movie. I was dating the now mr. marissa in 1988 and I'm sure we saw nothing but movies HE liked. That would mean several people had to die at the hands of Steven Segal or Jean Claude Vandork.

I hope the move goes splendidly. Good luck finding the wall in the bedroom that doesn't keep you up at night. You know, "eee-errr-eee-errr-eee-errrr" That's Sean's sex noise in text. It loses something in translation.

[Debra]

I think I caught this movie on cable several years ago. The only thing I remember (that made me laugh anyway) was Dana Carvey driving the car dressed in drag (one of his personalities) as Richard Pryor is driving by in the truck (I think I am remembering this correctly).

[Clark]

He did his share of crappy movies, but Richard Pryor is still the greatest stand-up comedian of all time (IMHO).

[Former Producer Dave]

Jeez, sorry to hear that I can't help you move, Steve. Spending a few days in Tennessee but loving the blog and podcasts! Let me know when I can visit Case de err-eee-err-eeee.

dave

[Bassnote]

I never saw this movie. Pryor made some really bad movies in the late 80s, and I avoided them all.

[Richard Phelps]

Hey Steve

Graze any fingers?

Always have some band-aids at the ready when moving house.

You can almost guarantee you'll either shave some skin off, drop a bed leg on your foot, bang your shin, scrape your knuckles, knock your head on a cupboard door, or hit your funnybone.

[Marissa]

I must have written my previous comment before coffee. I must correct "the now mr. marissa" There is no mr. marissa. I dumped him in '99 and he lives somewhere in TX.